Panorama showing the facade of San Miniato al Monte church in Florence and the view from the top of the steps over the city. This image was taken on a cloudy day.

San Miniato al Monte - Facade and View - Florence visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'San Miniato al Monte - Facade and View' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Tuscany.

The facade of San Miniato al Monte church in Florence dates from around 1100. It is made of gleaming white and green marble with great Romanesque-Roman arches. On the upper story is a late 13th century mosaic of Christ between the Virgin and San Miniato, which is replicated in the apse inside the church. The gable is topped by a gilded eagle holding a pack of wool in its claws. This symbolizes the power and wealth of the clothes-merchants guild, long-term patrons of San Miniato.

San Miniato al Monte stands on top of Mons Fiorentinus (also called San Miniato Hill), one of the highest points in Florence, and from the top of the steps there are good views back over the city with the dome of the Florence Cathedral and top of the Giotto's Campanile visible in the distance. Thankfully, given it's distance from the city center, San Miniato al Monte is much more restful than these other attractions, but well worth the effort.

San Miniato al Monte - Other Images

San Miniato al Monte is considered one of the finest Romanesque churches in Tuscany. Other pictures taken in and around the church show:

• Nave showing the free-standing Cappella del Crocefisso (Chapel of the Crucifix), the painted, trussed and coffered ceiling, and 13th century patterned floor.
• Sacristy decorated with beautiful 14th century frescoes depicting the life of St Benedict and the Four Evangelists.
• San Miniato al Monte Crypt, the oldest part of the church with vaulted ceilings and, supposedly, an altar containing the bones of San Miniato.
• Porte Sante cemetery, laid out in 1854 and surrounded by walls which turned the church into a fortress.

Basilica di San Miniato al Monte
Via delle Porte Sante, 34
50125 Florence, Italy
055 2342731

Bus: San Miniato al Monte (01)